Hepatic cysts are benign liver diseases that can be classified as parasitic, nonparasitic and congenital hereditary. Most of the hereditary liver cysts are caused by the developmental disorders of small intrahepatic bile ducts, and solitary liver cysts occur due to ectopic bile duct formation. Liver cysts grow slowly, so they may be asymptomatic for a long time or for life, and their clinical manifestations vary with the location, size and number of liver cysts, as well as with the presence or absence of compression of adjacent organs and the presence or absence of complications. Parasitic liver cysts should be detected and treated early, as early cysts are small in size, without complications, and have good treatment results. Most congenital and non-parasitic liver cysts are found unintentionally without obvious symptoms, so they do not require treatment, but they need continuous observation and periodic review. Those with cysts larger than 5 cm in diameter and showing symptoms of compression, or those with cyst rupture, cyst tip torsion, intracapsular hemorrhage or huge cysts need surgical treatment.